3.3. AGE LEVELS AND GROUPING OF CHILDREN
Children in nursery schools are grouped mainly according to age. Most nursery
schools are divided into classes for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. A combination of
different age-groups is possible when other criteria are taken into consideration:
children’s needs, interests and abilities in mainstream nursery schools, and in
special nursery schools the extent and type of disability. In rural areas, due to the
small number of children, it is also possible to create mixed age groups.
The number of children in one class/group cannot exceed 25, except in
special and integration nursery schools and special pre-school classes where
the limits are lower. The number of children in integration nursery schools
and classes ranges from 15 to 20, including 3–5 disabled children, and in special
nursery schools or pre-school classes, depending on the type of disability, from
6 to 16.
As a rule, two teachers working in shifts supervise one class (the first one
until 12 noon, and the second from 12 noon). Integration nursery schools and
mainstream nursery schools with integration classes employ additional teachers
who have been trained in special education.